St. John’s story about the raising of Lazarus unfolds like a Greek drama. The characters are Jesus, Thomas, Martha, Mary and, of course, Lazarus who is silent. And there are two choruses: the disciples and the Jews. However, unlike Greek drama this is not the story of a tragic fall. This story is about death and life, transformation, the glory of God and resurrection. It also is a story about great, overwhelming, unceasing love; God’s love of Jesus and God’s love for us.
St John tells us that “Jesus loved Martha and
her sister and Lazarus” (John 11:5). He
became “perturbed” and deeply troubled when he saw Mary weeping and he wept
when he saw Lazarus’ tomb. He raised Lazarus
from the dead out of love. But he also
performed this miracle to demonstrate to the disciples, his followers, Martha
and Mary and all the people around them the Glory of God. He told his disciples before they journeyed
to Bethany “this illness is not to end in death, _
but is for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it”
(John 11: 4). And just as with the
Samaritan woman at the well and the man blind from birth this miracle caused “many of the Jews who had come to Mary and seen what he had done”
(John 11:45) to believe in him.
For the disciples and many others, belief came as they witnessed the
miracle of Lazarus or they experienced the miracle of sight, or of
healing. For us belief in the
Resurrection is an act of absolute faith.
It transcends time, history and the limitations of our physical world
and our physical selves. It is the great
mystery of Christianity. As we complete
the final days of Lent and prepare ourselves to enter into Holy Week, let us
join with Martha, Mary, Lazarus and the entire communion of saints declaring
“Yes, Lord, I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the
one who is coming into the world” (John 11: 27).
God of life,
you want us to live and to be happy.
Your Son Jesus assures us:
"I am the resurrection and the life."
Do not let your life die in us.
Draw us out of our graves
of sin and mediocrity and fears.
Let life triumph in us
even in our uncertainties and trials
and make our hope contagious for others.
You have destined us for life without end
through the firstborn from the dead,
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
